When Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins sat down with Kay Adams on the Up & Adams Show, the Cincinnati Bengals' star receivers didn’t hold back when asked which Pro Bowlers they’d love to see in stripes-regardless of free agency status. The question was technically about free-agent targets, but the duo went straight for the kind of game-changers every team dreams about.
“I don’t know if he is a free agent,” Higgins said with a grin, “but Jeffery Simmons.” The Tennessee Titans defensive tackle has earned a reputation as a relentless force in the trenches, and Higgins made it clear he’s a fan.
“He’s just a dawg up there in front, man. Just watching him over the season, he made so many plays-run stopping, getting sacks on QBs and stuff like that.
I feel like we could use that.”
Chase had his own pick lined up. “I want to go with your boy from Vegas,” he said, turning to Higgins.
“Maxx Crosby. I like Maxx Crosby.
He’s a dawg.” Higgins quickly jumped in to co-sign the idea: “Hey, Maxx, man.
C’mon to the Bengals, man!”
It was a lighthearted segment, but the names they dropped weren’t random. Simmons and Crosby are two of the most disruptive defensive players in the league. Adding either to the Bengals’ front seven would be a massive boost for a team that’s been trying to find more consistency on the defensive side of the ball.
Adams also asked Chase about his upcoming show, Chasing No. 1, which is set to air on Overtime. When asked if his former LSU teammate-and current Vikings superstar-Justin Jefferson might be one of the first guests, Chase played it cool.
“It’s not finalized,” he said, “but I might be pushing for it.” Moments later, Jefferson joined the show, giving fans a glimpse of the chemistry that made the LSU Tigers so dangerous during their national championship run.
The fun didn’t stop there. During the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, Chase showed off his versatility-and his flair for the dramatic.
Lining up at defensive back late in the first quarter, he jumped a route and picked off Jared Goff, taking it to the house and capping it off with a celebratory backflip. It was a reminder that Chase isn’t just a highlight machine on offense-he’s got playmaker instincts no matter where he lines up.
During the second quarter, Chase and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow were interviewed on the broadcast by ESPN’s Michelle Beisner-Buck. The two shared a laugh when Burrow playfully teased Chase about his reluctance to make tackles. “He doesn’t want to hit anybody,” Burrow joked, drawing a grin from his top target.
Meanwhile, Higgins got in on the action as well. He hauled in a pass over the middle from Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders and later added an extra point reception from Sanders. Before the half was over, Higgins found the end zone again-this time on a touchdown pass from Bengals backup Joe Flacco.
It was a Pro Bowl filled with personality and playmaking, and the Bengals’ stars made sure their presence was felt. Whether it was Chase’s pick-six and backflip, Higgins’ pair of scoring grabs, or their playful recruiting pitches on national TV, the message was clear: Cincinnati’s core is not just talented-they’re having fun, thinking big, and looking to build something even better.